'Reality' TV is nothing of the sort
By Beth Prosnitz
Television's false world has exploded with a new standard of programming - that of "reality" TV. However, beautiful people having sex in the hot tub and in-your-face arguments due to nights of intoxication are not windows into reality.
These types of situations are the foundations of every plot in MTV's "The Real World," which should be considered a blatant misrepresentation of real life. It forms a false sense of reality around sensationalism and societal standards of beauty.
The audition process for the show is grueling and unjust toward many applicants. Thousands of tapes are sent in, and MTV executives pick the "perfect" seven. However, they're chosen based on stereotypes and their extreme nature. The cast is a narrow group that always includes the gay man or lesbian woman, the proud African-American, the ignorant/uneducated white boy (or girl) from the South, the virgin, and the troubled person whose anger frequently explodes. This eclectic blend of people could be a forum for discussion of important issues of race, religion or gender, but it is not.
The people selected do not represent the backgrounds they come from very well. They are - by society's standards - beautiful and seek attention. This, in turn, leads to petty and minor problems revolving around "who had sex in the bathtub this week."
Let us reflect upon the current season in New York City. The precursor to the premiere was a casting special that consisted of the possible roommates becoming familiar with one another. This revolved around in-depth conversations about their voyeurism and "makeout" sessions. The season then fired itself up, and quickly sank into its sensationalistic slump.
By episode 11, sexual scandals become prevalent. Mike, the good old boy from the South, gets a visit from a "friend" named Sarah, who ventures to New York City from Ohio. Mike tingles with joy in hopes of spending the night in bed with this young lady, and his wish is soon granted.
There is one problem, however: The other two male roommates are trying to get some beauty rest while this sexual rendezvous occurs. The female roommates, now aware of this, gossip their mouths off about this petty issue. Coral, the proud African-American woman, is especially disgusted and offended, and she and Mike become the center of the plot.
The lineup of only individuals with extreme personalities is a complete setup and the show becomes an unscripted soap opera rather than a depiction of real life. MTV executives produce the show to their satisfaction, and this epitomizes the distortion of real life. The show rots the moral satisfaction that people attain from real life.
This type of programming calls for a new type of censorship - that of the public. Viewers should turn off their televisions and allow the show to fade into the black hole it came from.
